d_riddhi@dnaindia.netOne of the most important works of legendary artist Pablo Picasso titled Arlequin, from his Cubist phase (the Cubists used geometry to design their paintings), is estimated to fetch $ 30 million (above Rs 139 crore ) when it will be put up for an auction in New York in November.
The artwork that belonged to Enrico Donati, one of the last great surrealists, has not been exhibited since the past 45 years.
Art collectors from different parts of the world will be present at the auction. A few Indian art collectors might also join the bandwagon to bring Picasso to India. Maithili Parekh, Indian representative from Sotheby’s auction house says, “It is too early to say but we have seen Indian clients buying Picasso’s works earlier.”
She adds, “Modern Indian artists such as Francis Newton Souza and Maqbool Fida Husain have been influenced by Picasso. Hence this work will be an interesting addition for any Indian modern art collector. Given that this is one of the most important works of Picasso (the artist’s Cubist phase is best known), we are expecting a great response from art collectors from other countries as well.”
The art work Arlequin dates back to 1909 juts two years after Picaso completed his landmark work Des Demoiselles d’Avignon. For the last 50 years Arlequin has been a part of Enrico Donati’s collection, who died earlier this year at the age of 99. Donati purchased this work in the 1940s from Picasso’s dealer Daniel Henry Kahnweiler.
